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9/18/2017 |
Member News |
SWPPP: New General Permit takes effect Jan. 1 |
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SWPPP: New General Permit takes effect Jan. 1 New rules for the Department of Environmental Quality’s Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activity General Permit (General Permit) will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018. Are you ready? During 2016-2017, DEQ formed a task force to assist in making changes to the permit which requires a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) be submitted for projects that have one acre or greater of disturbance. The primary change to the General Permit is the establishment of a sage grouse habitat review. SWPPP applications in a sage grouse area MUST include authorization/approval from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program. The program has up to 45 days to review and return approval, but DNRC representatives say the process may require less time. Remember: no sage grouse approval, no SWPPP. Period. An additional change is to the DEQ’s SWPPP form itself. DEQ took input from the construction industry and has greatly simplified the SWPPP developing process. At the same time, the department tried to eliminate some of the redundancy that was inherent in the Notification of Intent (NOI) and SWPPP submittal process. The MCA, with our partner, Territorial Landworks, Inc., offers SWPPP Administrator Certification programs across Montana. These classes will ensure your SWPPP administrators are up to date on the latest details, to help ensure you are protected on your site. The fall training calendar is set. We’ll be in Missoula, Sept. 28-29; Billings, Oct. 19-20; and Great Falls, Dec. 7-8. Click here to register. You can also call the MCA for more information, (406) 442-4162.
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